Hawk sparks brush fire

SAN DIEGO ---- A brush fire sparked by a hawk that landed on a
power line burned 3 acres in a Mira Mesa canyon Sunday and briefly
threatened homes along the rim before being extinguished, a San
Diego Fire-Rescue Department official said.

The blaze was reported around 11 a.m. below the 7800 block of
Backer Road, in a canyon that runs just north of Miramar Marine
Corps Air Station, said Maurice Luque of the SDFRD.

Five homes along the canyon rim were evacuated as a precaution
but none was damaged and there were no injuries, Luque said.

The flames were extinguished by 40 firefighters and a
helicopter, he said.

The fire was caused by a hawk that landed on a power line,
caught fire and fell to the ground, igniting brush ---- which is
not uncommon, Luque said.